We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

How do you record standing?

weeblex
weeblex Posts: 412 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Today, I spent the day doing presentations, and teaching, it resulted in 6 hours on my feet. I'm trying to work out how to count calories on that, it was above and beyond my normal day, my legs ache and I'm tired, but I have no idea what to call it on here.

I haven't recorded it since it is just "extra calories" but does anyone have any suggestions what this might be as it isn't part of my usual routine?

Maybe I'll just log a couple of hundred miscellaneous calories?

Replies

  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    same way you count brushing teeth
  • LJCannon
    LJCannon Posts: 3,636 Member
    LiveStrong.com and Calorie Counter.com may have what you are looking for. Otherwise I would put it under "Light Office Work' or something like that. I think I remember seeing 'Standing At Church' under the Exercise on Livestrong.com
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Honestly, I wouldn't log it, but if I were particularly hungry and needed to go over my calories a little, I would.
  • zachatta
    zachatta Posts: 1,340 Member
    ^^ This

    In my opinion MFP seriously overestimates random activities calorie output.

    So if you are always logging simple things, you may overeat.
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    You could just notate it in your diary instead of logging it. If it happens regularly, you may change your activity level i.e. from sedentary to lightly active.
  • Mr_Bad_Example
    Mr_Bad_Example Posts: 2,403 Member
    I used to think that I could log such things... but in the end, I realized that activity like office work (or standing and talking as I do public presentations) was likely covered by my daily calorie estimate. So, no extra calories for that.
  • Awkward30
    Awkward30 Posts: 1,927 Member
    Honestly, I wouldn't log it, but if I were particularly hungry and needed to go over my calories a little, I would.

    I third this
  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    ^^ This

    In my opinion MFP seriously overestimates random activities calorie output.

    So if you are always logging simple things, you may overeat.

    I agree with this. All calorie burns are over estimates. If you eat back calories it's too hard to stay in a true deficit and it's all insignificant until you hit low body fat. I ignored it while I was losing all my weight and it helped me stay in a deficit. And even now at under 12% body fat I pretty much ignore it because I know it is way too high. I just listen to my body because you truly can get into starvation mode at this low fat level (it's a myth that it happens when you have significant body fat). If I worked out hard and need 100-200 calories more later in the day then I can have some more protein. I can tell when I need it. If I'm done logging my calories for the day no big deal, I just add it in later in the evening when I can tell I need the extra. I still end up being way under on calories. But I can tell you I am not withering away and I'm still building muscle. No matter what the online charts or calculators say; calories are not the the end game, my body is. My body is doing fine with the lower amount.
  • elewellen
    elewellen Posts: 35 Member
    Do not count your regular activities such as work. I was 50lbs heavier than I am now at work a yr ago. I just count new and intentionally excersise activities. I run walk very fast at work but do not count it my body is use to it. I only count what causes additional stress on my body.
  • rhonniema
    rhonniema Posts: 522 Member
    Honestly, I wouldn't log it, but if I were particularly hungry and needed to go over my calories a little, I would.

    I third this
    Fourth in agreeing.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    JUst to add to the already good answers--fatigue is NOT a reliable indicator of work intensity or calories burned. Just doing something different will make you feel fatigued, even if you don't expend any signficant effort.

    At best, standing burns approx 1/2 of a calorie more per minute than lying in bed. However, even if you mark "sedentary", you still get a "movement allowance" of about 25% of your BMR. And that's an estimated average--it doesn't mean you automatically burn those calories every day.

    Another thing that often happens when we do something "extra" is that we curtail other habitual activity--either because of fatigue or as a subconscious "reward" for working hard.

    The net result is that those "extra" activity calories usually do not amount to a significant total. In my job, I often have days where I have to climb the 45 stairs from the basement to the fitness floor 5-10 times a day, pick up over 1000 lbs of weight plans that pampered yuppies leave lying around the weight room, as well as demonstrate numerous exercises while orienting and training clients.

    I have never lost an ounce from work activity. Partly becuase the long hours and long commute can negatively impact my workout efforts. The work activity just barely keeps me level.
  • MyM0wM0w
    MyM0wM0w Posts: 2,008 Member
    Honestly, I wouldn't log it, but if I were particularly hungry and needed to go over my calories a little, I would.

    This.
  • Cait_Sidhe
    Cait_Sidhe Posts: 3,150 Member
    I wouldn't log it. That should be included in your activity level. Even if it's not, the burn would be negligable.
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    Today, I spent the day doing presentations, and teaching, it resulted in 6 hours on my feet. I'm trying to work out how to count calories on that, it was above and beyond my normal day, my legs ache and I'm tired, but I have no idea what to call it on here.

    I haven't recorded it since it is just "extra calories" but does anyone have any suggestions what this might be as it isn't part of my usual routine?

    Maybe I'll just log a couple of hundred miscellaneous calories?

    Or maybe you shouldn't worry about things that don't really mean much of anything. Way too much emphasis is put on calorie burn. Eat at a healthy calorie deficit using TDEE and don't worry about calorie burn; it's much less stressful.
  • SueGremlin
    SueGremlin Posts: 1,066 Member
    I logged standing today, in fact. I stood for four hours in the lab, and I was too foot sore and tired to go running.
This discussion has been closed.